The Power of Understanding

 The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out.  —Proverbs 20:5, NIV

Everyone has a purpose, regardless of how obscure it may be. The link to identify and then make progress towards its fulfillment is understanding.

Prayer is important. Yet, it is possible to pray amiss (that is, in an unscriptural manner). That is why we have all seen or known someone given to prayer that never seemed to advance in life. May your life show the fruit you were ordained to fulfill! Amen!

I am convinced (I have a firm persuasion) that the quality of life we live is a function of the light or insight we have at our disposal.

Failure in life is a function of a lack of understanding.

Proverbs 4:7, NIV: 
….Though it cost all you have, get understanding. 

Apostle Paul prayed in Ephesians 1: 18, KJV: 
The eyes of your understanding be enlightened: that you may KNOW WHAT IS the hope of his calling…

Many people have not realized that life is a function of the light they have. 

Any journey “outside” the path of illumination is a disoriented trip in the dark.

Let’s go back to our focal passage (Proverbs 20: 5): 
The purposes of a man’s heart are deep waters, BUT a man of understanding draws them out.

The statement preceding the ‘but’ above represents where most people are in life: it represents the obscurity (that is, a lack of clarity) regarding the human race. We all have a purpose to fulfill, yet some will live and die with “deep waters” in the depths of their hearts that will go untapped. They live in a drought of understanding, yet they are surrounded by a depth of untapped potential. 

At the other side of the “but” is a man who has drawn from the “deep waters.” What is his secret? He’s not just any other man. He is one described as a man of understanding. Understanding is the qualifer. It distinguishes you from the masses of indistinct purposes that lay dormant in 6 billion people that make up the population of the human race.

Our distinction in life is tied to our understanding in any area of life. It is true of business, marriage, ministry etc. 

This means that understanding sets you apart from the pack. It means that your struggle ends where understanding begins. It is all about the light or insight or illumination that you have. It does not matter what you call it. The bottom line is this: Your life is a walking, talking, and breathing prophecy; and it is speaking real loud. The question is, do you like what it is saying?

Under God’s clear blue skies, it was never meant to be that some would excel while others fail. Rather, everything rests on the amount of light you and I walk in. Period!

I remember my brother and I going to speak at a church. When we flew into that city we were picked up by our host. While conversing back and forth, he proceeded to ask a heartfelt question. He wanted to know how it is that we were so clear about our vision in life. He admitted his struggle in this area.

You see, for him he felt there was something more than his present circumstance. His purpose was still in “deep waters” crying out for expression. It seems he was saying, “Purpose! Identify yourself!” He  needed clear understanding to draw it out to chart his course in life.

This is what we did: we prayed out  Colossians 1:9,10. We prayed for years for wisdom; we prayed that the eyes of our understanding would be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). God is faithful! As a result of these heartfelt prayers, we are still drawing from the “deep waters” today.

John the baptist had understanding that Jesus was the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1: 29). Yet he doubted the ministry of Jesus when things did not turn out the way he expected (Luke 7:18-28). So he sent his disciples to inquire of Jesus, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

If John could doubt Jesus like that, then he just doubted his call to be the forerunner of Jesus. Yet, to John’s credit he went to the heart of the issue. His doubt did not remain a fixture. It propelled him to make an inquiry—he sought for answers; not of others, but of the very person he came to forerun.

Power point: Understanding has levels! Understanding at one level does not guarantee understanding at a different level. You need to draw from the  reservoirs of the Holy Spirit the understanding needed for the new level.